A PAEDOPHILE hunting group has welcomed 'swift' justice after a man was arrested, charged and hauled before the courts in a matter of days.

Peter Davies was arrested on March 23 by Cumbria Police following a sting operation conducted by ‘365 Hunters’, a voluntary online organisation that says they want to educate people, as well as seeking out sexual predators online.

The 45-year-old, from Dalton, was brought before magistrates two days later where he confessed to engaging in sexual communications with a child and causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity between March 5 – 18 in Barrow.

Between that time period, Davies believed he was communicating with a child when he was instead speaking with a decoy who was posing to be a child under the age of 16.

Over two weeks, the defendant asked her to engage in sexual activity of a non-penetrative nature and to provide sexual images of herself for his own sexual gratification, South Cumbria Magistrates Court heard.

Speaking anonymously after the defendant pleaded guilty to the offences, a member of 365 Hunters, said: “It’s brilliant news for us that he’s been charged with the offences and we are very happy that he has pleaded guilty. His interest in children was a massive concern to us.

“We are very appreciative for the hard work that our decoy has done. They sometimes have to speak with these people for weeks, months and sometimes even years.

“We are also happy that the police have acted swiftly and that the case has already been to court because sometimes it can take months.

“We feel the work we do is very important. If it wasn’t for our work, a lot of these people would never be brought to justice.

“It’s a relief when they are exposed for what they are.”

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: “Cumbria Constabulary will act appropriately on any information which is reported.

“The Constabulary supports the position of the National Police Chiefs’ Council in respect of online child abuse activist groups.

“We understand the desire to protect children, but any member of the public who has information about child sexual abuse, online or otherwise, should contact police so it can be investigated to bring offenders to justice.”

Davies will be sentenced for the offences at Preston Crown Court on May 7.

He was given unconditional bail by magistrates.